Counselling Course

thierrym wrote: »

Hi Odisseyus, I totally understand your point of view about sitting in on individual sessions. I also can' t imagine that a client would feel comfortable in this position. Same about the videoing of sessions.
By background in addiction is "been there, done that" and feel I lucky to have come out the other side.
From what you say I presume that you are currently working in the counselling/psychotherapy field. What do you mean when you say that as regards addiction "the more you learn the less you understand"?
I presume that too many theories can get tangled up and even an ex-addict (if there is such a thing) can forget the rawness of it all when the head becomes crammed with theories.

Hi Thierrym, no what I mean is addiction is such a complex issue, I have been working and teaching in the addiction field for over 12 years; working in different facilities. I currently work with the Addiction Services. By complex I mean that there is so much more to treatment than merely drug status.

I have people in therapy will may never be clean, the issues I see would include:
Chaotic livestyles,
Dual diagnoisis,
Various traumas,
Terminal illnesses,
Abusive histories,
Child protection issues,
Criminality,
Sex work,
Anti Social Behaviour,
Homelessness,
Suicidie,

The list just goes on, as I sure you know from you studies treatment is not just about being clean or not. So that is what I mean when I say the more I know the less I understand. Human subjectivity is so complex and each person who sits in the chair in my office is different that I will never know enough.

I know peole who are in this game over 25 years and they still feel they lack the skills and understanding to work with some cases. That is the beauty of addiction for me and a lot of the people I know and work with the drug use is only the tip of the iceberg and merely a symptom of deeper issues.

The video sessions would be big in CBT, just not my cup of tea; but it works for some people. No I don't mean what you said in the last sentence. I believe you need a good theory to work, and having a history of addiction or being recovering if the person uses that term does not come into it. That only gives a person an insight in their addiction, not the person in front of them.

I did five years of analysis as part of my training, it does not apply to the person I'm treating if you get my point. I say this not in reference to your post, I have said it here many times. Some people feel that being in revcovery gives them a better insight, I personally don't believe, the only time I see it as a problem is when the person sees their way as the only way.

Anyway I have to head now, good luck with your studies.


Edit: I am a member myself, but the IAAAC is not the best organisation. If you can look at trying to join a another professional body as well.

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

We do it in CBT. Guess it may have to do with the medical/health background of most CBT therapists. If medical students get to watch while a consultant does a rectal exam, the patient may be embarrassed but knows he is allowing it for the greater good. What better way for students to learn that to watch a competent professional at work, and discuss it afterwards?

And yeah, the students (and qualified professionals) often videotape sessions to show their supervisor. Helps maintain and improve standards.

All with the clients' consent, of course.

Yeah of course JC, that would be one of the reasons I hear arond it. The people I know who practice that way have a lot of positivve things to say about it. Just not my cup of cup, but each to their own.

If it's not accredited by a legitimate organisation, then you might be saving money but ultimately you might be wasting your time (which is money after all!) and if you want to work in this field you'll probably have to go back and do one of the other courses anyway. So it could end up being a false economy.

Just in case you are not aware, you might be eligible to claim tax back from your fees so it mightn't be quite as bad as it seems.

emnic wrote: »

Ok so I have applied for four courses in total - tcd doctorate in counselling psych which is my first choice, the diploma in the tivoli institute, the diploma is iicp, and the cbt diploma in Belfast cognitive centre. Not that I expect to be offered them all but I want to put together some thoughts on pros and cons... And would greatly appreciate advice!!!

Obviously the Trinity Doctorate is the best choice career wise, you know that the cons are the high cost (€12k a year right?) and it's full time.

The diploma in Belfast requires having a qualification in counselling already doesn't it? I didn't think it was an entry qualification.

IICP has the pro of only being 2 years and the con that you won't get into the ICP or get the ECP with that programme. It also has the, in my opinion significant, con that it is heavily reality therapy based which is one of the least evidence based of the CBT family of therapies. if you haven't read all of Glasser's books and Wubbolding's then I suggest reading them before committing to that course, you may find it compares poorly to other therapies.

The Tivoli is good.

Did you not consider DCU and their grad diploma/Masters which can then lead to a doctorate?

Had a quick look at that site, why would a profession body need my PPS number, closed the page after seeing that. Most bodies require CPD.

bnolan10101 wrote: »

....so rather been accused of shrilling let me openly state a few facts,...

What a beautiful example of a Freudian slip...:p

CPD is continuous professional development

I think you should be okay with IACP - best contact them directly. The NCII course will have been designed to maximise professional acceptance.

I've given up trying to work out why the representatives of APCP consider that their 'hard sell' would endear them to practising and prospective therapists and counsellors reading these forums. To me it's behaviour completely out of step with the profession. Without the behaviour on here I would have probably been quite open to a free professional organisation. Anyway - it's up to each of us to decide where we go and seeing as I'm on an IAHIP aligned course and that IAHIP are fairly much aligned with my own view of the profession then I'll probably stay with them.

kiwikid wrote: »

where can i keep an eye on how this is progressing?

also can you tell me how regulated the Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy sector is. Sorry i know this is not counselling per se.

If you had to explain to a real greenhorn the differences and the preference of Counselling v's psychotherapy what would they be.

I am interested in getting into counselling of some description.

Hypnotherapy is voluntarily regulated like psychotherapy i.e. no statutory regulation.

The semantic differences between counselling and psychotherapy has narrowed in recent years, but traditionally counselling was considered work on everyday problems which had less depth to it and its practitioners commonly less training.

The proposed statutory regulations would subsume both under the protected title of psychological therapist but would also retain the distinction between the 2 with different training criteria being applied to them.

Why not try a foundation course in counselling and psychotherapy?

kiwikid wrote: »

i suppose the reason that i would not do the foundation is that it is not accredited and costs a fair bit. Although the diploma costs more its accredited.

I am very interested in counselling - not for addictions, just everyday issues that effect people.

One ordinarily cannot get onto a diploma course without a foundation course.

hotspur wrote: »

One ordinarily cannot get onto a diploma course without a foundation course.

Not necessarily true - postgrad diplomas at DBS and other places are open to anyone with a bachelors degree in any discipline. The serve as an honours degree level (HETAC level 8) conversion course and prepare you for a clinical masters.

Kiwikid the whole point of foundation courses in counselling and psychotherapy is for people in your exact situation to get exposed to the area and be well placed to make an informed judgement about yourself and psychotherapy.

Unfortunately the price of these courses seems to have crept up in the last couple of years to the point where many would want to be fairly sure of wanting to enter it as a career path before committing that kind of money.

This is a shame and, I believe, is functioning contrary to the point of the courses in the first place.

Judging by what you have written here I would find it difficult to recommend that you shell out for a diploma in counselling as you appear to be at a very preliminary stage in your understanding of it and whether you think it's right for you. In any case the counselling centre course requires a foundation course.

I don't know of any cheaper foundation courses in Cork, CIT and PCI do ones there but Cit deadline has been missed and is more expensive, PCI is a little cheaper at €1450.

silvine wrote: »

Has anyone completed the Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy in DBS?

I've a degree in Communications and am considering this course.

I have. Some of the lecturing was pretty awful but the worst of the lecturers have been replaced to the best of my knowledge.

On the skills side, I don't think I could have received a better education.

Course content has a good balance and has certainly left me confident of moving on to a clinical MA - unfortunately I have to defer for a year due to lack of funds.

feel free to PM me with any questions you'd rather not air publicly

EDIT: BTW, My initial education is as a physicist and I work in the software industry so don't worry about your background.